The transfers, which took place on Thursday night, were done after an 'on ground' visit by new Principal Secretary (Home) Deepak Singhal and Director General of Police (DGP) A L Banerjee.

The superintendent of police of Bijnore, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Auraiyya, Hapur and Etah were transferred. Two additional superintendents of police have also been transferred in Aligarh, the official said.

While the recommendations for shifting them were made by the state police chief after a scrutiny of crime control in their districts, the chief of the special task force (STF) - an anti-mafia specialized force - Ashish Gupta was removed directly on the orders of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Gupta apparently incurred the wrath of Akhilesh Yadav for his insensitive remarks on rapes after the Badaun gang rape and killing of two girls. Sujit Pandey, who has returned from a central government deputation, has been made the new STF chief.

The state government has also transferred Jhansi Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Deepak Ratan for laxity in duties and failing to curb crime. Vijay Garg has replaced him.After an outcry over a spurt in crimes against women, the Akhilesh Yadav government is cracking the whip on the bureaucracy and the police top brass.

After its rout in the Lok Sabha elections, the party has conceded that poor law and order took a toll on it and the party's tally was reduced to a bare five from 22 MPs in 2009.